Six minutes before the top of the hour, John Cena's music played to bring out the World Hvt. champion displaying his left arm in a sling. Cena smiled to the appreciative crowd on-stage, sent a salute to the on-stage camera, and made his way to the ring after briefly shaking hands with ringside fans. Cole, sounding concerned, said this is a concerning sight for Cena Fans seeing him hurting six days before Survivor Series. Once in the ring, Cena saluted the crowd with his one good arm before surveying the audience.

After a pause, loud boos were heard before Cena Fans tried to drown out the boos. Cena thanked the crowd for their wonderful reception, then said he's had a bit of bad luck lately. He introduced a clip from last week's Raw when Alberto Del Rio attacked him with a chair, then tried to take out Cena's left arm.

Back live, Cena said he did not want to give up after what happened on Raw, so he showed up on Smackdown for an Arm Wrestling Contest. There, Cena won the contest, but Del Rio cheap-shotted him and put Cena through a table, trying to further injure Cena heading into Survivor Series.

Back live, Cena sold dejection re-living the footage. Cena said that's put him in a bad mood for three days, so he appreciates the crowd's excitement tonight. Pause for "Cena, Cena" chant that was drowned out by boos. Cena said it's energy and a WWE Universe just like this made him want to come back from injury. Because he wants to be here in front of the crowd. But, maybe he came back too soon sitting here with his arm in his sling. He said trying to be some sort of super-hero made him think maybe he shouldn't be World champion. But then he looks around the audience and says, "Damn right, I should be World Hvt. champion." Cena said Del Rio does not know who he's stepping in the ring with in six days. He noted he's performing in his hometown on Sunday and there is a certain amount of excellence that comes with being World Hvt. champion. Cena said pain is temporary and pride is forever, so in six days, he will hold this title and said loud, proud, and clear: "The Champ Is Here!"

[Q9 -- third hour] After Cena delivered the fired-up speech, Del Rio walked out on-stage and sarcastically clapped it up for Cena. "John Cena, what an amazing speech! Santa Maria! We have a real superhero in da house!" Del Rio said Cena is so good that he almost made him cry. Cena responded that on Sunday, he's going to make Del Rio tap. Del Rio laughed off the tough words, then told Cena to show the audience that he can actually hold up the title. Using his arm with the sling, of course.

Cena responded that all that matters is he will be ready on Sunday. Del Rio said he will be ready... to be humiliated and embarrassed in front of his family, mami, and papi. He said a real champion takes advantage of every opportunity. And right now he sees a great opportunity. Del Rio licked his lips in anticipation, but Cena cut him off and said a real champion does take advantage of every opportunity. Cena dropped the sad, arm-in-a-sling look and sold being perfectly fine, hoisting Del Rio in the air for an AA tease, but Del Rio scampered out of the ring and complained about Cena trying to trick him. Cena, offered the crowd a visual that he's healthy, hoisted the title belt in the air with both hands, but Lawler said he doesn't think he's 100 percent.

Next Week: Retired NFL star Michael Strahan on Raw as special guest host of the show.

[Commercial Break at 10:05]

Nashville: More exterior shots of Broadway Street before showing the arena across the street.

In-ring: This week, 3MB is known as Rhinestone Cowboys, riffing on Hoodslam's monthly band name. Lawler said they're having an identity crisis, then WWE cut to an Xbox-sponsored video replay of 3MB as the Union Jacks last week. R-Truth's music then played to bring out Truth and a debuting Xavier Woods, who danced to the ring with Truth as his back-up singer. Truth introduced Xavier, who he called his new partner. "So, that's Xavier Woods," JBL said, referring back to several weeks ago when Xavier sponsored a petition to get Big Show re-hired and JBL sold not knowing who Xavier is.

Xavier took a beating early on as Truth tried to shout encouragement from the ring apron. Truth entered via tag and suplexed McIntyre before tagging in "the kid." Xavier said it's Morphin' Time, then rolled into a clothesline before delivering a fall-away shoulder-yank to McIntyre for the three count. Xavier wins his debut.

Post-match: Xavier brought 3MB's props into the ring to do a dance number with Truth. After a replay of the finish, the winners continued to celebrate in the ring.

WINNERS: Xavier Truth at 3:05.

[Q10] Authority Office: Triple H and Stephanie McMahon told Randy Orton that they've been thinking. Stephanie said there will be no Shield and there will be no help on Sunday. Hunter said they expect Orton to prove why he should be the Face of WWE by winning by himself. Orton seethed, then calmed down and said he'll show them confidence.

Announcers: Cole and Co. were shown hyping tickets going on-sale for WrestleMania 30, which Lawler called the "30th Anniversary" of WrestleMania. Yes, they're re-utilizing the fake "anniversary" marketing a la WrestleMania 25. WWE then ran a video package on fans getting Mania tickets at the Kick-off Party in New Orleans in Friday. Included were soundbytes from new-look Mark Henry and injured Rey Mysterio.

Back live in the arena, Justin Roberts formally introduced Florida Georgia Line to perform "'Round Here" on-stage, complete with pyro. During the performance, WWE cut to crowd shots of the Nashville fans singing and dancing along.

Announcers: Cole, Lawler, and JBL applauded FGL appearing on Raw, then Daniel Bryan's music played to set up the big 12-man tag main event. Bryan emerged through the instruments on-stage as WWE failed to get a camera on the former temporary #1 star. Once in the ring, WWE got a camera on Bryan, who led the crowd in loud "Yes!" chants. C.M. Punk was then introduced to join Bryan for the main event. Cole called it electric in Nashville with FGL, Bryan, and Punk. After a plug for Bryan & Punk vs. the Wyatts at Survivor Series, Cole sent Raw to commercial.

[Q11] [Commercial Break at 10:30]

Back from break, The Usos and WWE tag champs Rhodes Bros. were in the ring with Punk and Bryan, who kind of hung out in the background, not getting camera time. The Shield's music then played to bring out Shield through the crowd on the one-year anniversary of their debut. On cue, Cole flashed back to their debut one year ago. As Shield hung out ringside, the Wyatts's video feed cut in. They're here. Bray led Erick Rowan and Luke Harper down to the ring as Cole plugged Survivor Series on Sunday.

Once their music stopped, Bray smiled and led his trio down to ringside to join The Shield. The two heel teams sold uneasiness teaming together before Bryan led the crowd in "Yes!" chants prior to the bell sounded with a good 30 minutes left in the show (factoring in the over-run).

Feeling-out process as the announcers sat back and watched the action unfold. Harper then tagged in on Rollins, who got upset with Harper. "We're a team," Harper reasoned. Shield did not take kindly to reason and a war of words broke out ringside. Not pictured, Bryan led the crowd in "Yes!" chants as the heels argued heading to break.

[Commercial Break at 10:41]

Back from break, Cody Rhodes rocked Rollins with right hand strikes. Ambrose then tagged in and rocked Rhodes after running him head-first into a bass drum...nevermind, a simple corner turnbuckle.

[Q12] The babyfaces tried to rally behind Cody, who continued to take a beating, this time from Rollins, who mocked Goldust by doing his pose right in his face. Goldust sold terrifically by staring straight ahead with a (facepaint-aided) look of "Oh, you'll get yours." More tags between The Shield only, which Cole pointed out. Rollins began toying with Cody, which woke up the sleeping Rhodes. Cody delivered a suplex, but Harper tagged in on Rollins, again setting up a verbal war of words.

After a brief verbal exchange, Harper saw what was happening on the other side of the ring and cut off Cody from making a tag, but Cody absorbed and nailed a Disaster Kick. WWE then cut to a super-close-up corner turnbuckle shot of Bryan preparing to take the hot tag, prompting Bryan to tell him to back up. Bryan then took the tag and exploded on Harper with signature Bruiser Bryan offense. But, Harper cut him off with a running powerbomb out of the corner.

Bryan in trouble as Bray Wyatt tagged in for the first time in the match. The crowd chanted for Punk as Bray pounded on Bryan with forearm strikes. Once Bray indicated he was in control of the action, the crowd tried to rally with a "Daniel Bryan" chant, but the Wyatts and Shield suddenly formed an alliance and began exchanging tags to work on Bryan. Ambrose even wanted a hug or a hand signal of agreement with Rowan, but Rowan left him hanging and went to work on Bryan.

More tags from the heels before Bryan caught Ambrose with a knee to the gut. Bryan tried to get to the face corner for a tag, but the entire heel group charged the ring to clear the entire face group off the ring apron. The ref tried to restore order with Bryan in trouble heading to break.

[Commercial Break at 10:54]

Back from break three minutes before the top of the hour, Bryan was still in trouble. As Bryan sold in the heel corner, Rowan looked toward his new friends and selected Reigns to receive a tag to continue assaulting Bryan. Reigns wanted a back-drop on Bryan, but Bryan countered with a DDT. Bryan then made it across the ring to hot-tag Punk, who cleaned house on the heels. Punk delivered a double neckbreaker to The Shield, then stood up and smiled toward the crowd.

High-knee to Ambrose, then one for Rollins. Then another for Ambrose. Punk climbed to the top for a Macho Man Elbow Drop and he connected on Ambrose. Punk wanted a GTS on Ambrose, but Bray Wyatt entered the ring. Punk lost focus on Ambrose, but then slapped on the Vice. The heels broke it up, though.

[Q13 -- over-run] Chaos with bodies flying everywhere. Usos splashed heels on the outside, then Punk and Ambrose bumped into each other mid-ring. Goldust broke up a pin, but then ate a big spear from Reigns. Cross Rhodes for Reigns. Buckle Bomb for Cody. Double-attack from The Beard and The Best. It came down to Punk and Ambrose again. This time, Punk nailed Ambrose with GTS and it was good for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Team Punk at 24:02. This was the top selling point for Survivor Series after last week's Raw - a potential hot 12-man Survivor Series match. The post-match tried to create a sense of Survivor Series having to more to offer, though...

Post-match: The Real Americans hit the ring to try to attack the faces. And there's Rey Mysterio returning to Raw TV. Mysterio stormed the ring and went through Rowan's legs to hop onto Cesaro to send him flying to the outside. Mysterio cleared more heels from the ring, then dialed up a Double 619 on Swagger and Harper. Punk then dropped Harper with a GTS into Bryan's running knee. Bryan, Punk, and Rey stood center-ring as Cole excitedly said Rey is back.

The faces then took a curtain call in the ring with Bryan leading the crowd in "Yes!" cheers. Cole tried to collect himself and sell Survivor Series on Sunday, with Lawler filling in that it will be better than this feeling on Sunday. Cole tried to hype Orton's WWE Title in jeopardy on Sunday as the faces continued to stand tall as Raw signed off four minutes past the top of the hour. No word on whether Rey is the mystery partner for the faces at Survivor Series, but that was the implication.

Or, if you want to save $55, next week's Raw is guest-hosted by Michael Strahan, which Raw signed off with a plug for.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Really interesting that the final sales pitch for Survivor Series was the undercard - Bryan & Punk as a tag team and Rey potentially being the mystery man for a match announced just before Raw. Either WWE shifted everything around for Rey's surprise return to be the final send-off, or they recognized a lack of strong interest in Cena-Del Rio and Orton-Big Show and went heavy on the fan-friendly undercard at the expense of building up the heels.

Overall, there was too much gunk and filler in the middle of the show for the top Survivor Series items to really "pop" and make people forget about their regrettable PPV purchases in September and October, so WWE is banking on Cena Fans getting excited about Cena conquering Del Rio and the super, happy, feel-good, closing moments to stir up the rest of the audience to want more on Sunday.

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)

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